Nativity displays to feature collections from around the world

Ragini Venkatasubban | ragini@mrt.com

Published 5:24 am, Friday, November 22, 2013

With the Christmas season comes the annual display of Nativity scenes around Midland.

Family Promise of Midland will hold “No Room at the Inn,” a Nativity display fundraiser, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2801 N. Garfield St. A preview party will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22. To RSVP for the preview party, call 432-528-5521.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold “Share the Spirit,” a Nativity exhibit, Dec. 6-8 at 4805 Gateway St. Viewing hours are 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6, 4-9 p.m. Dec. 7 and 2-7 p.m. Dec. 8. A live Nativity reenactment will take place every 30 minutes from 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7.

“No Room at the Inn” is in its fourth year and will feature more than 300 Nativity scenes from around the world, including Israel, Africa, Alaska, Peru, Portugal and Nepal. Some are hand-carved; others are collected from stores. Each Nativity represents the diversity of the location, from a tiny, hand-carved Nativity scene from Israel to a Nativity scene with an igloo from Alaska.

Along with the display, the fundraiser will include a silent auction and raffle. All proceeds will benefit Family Promise of Midland, an organization that works with 18 local churches to provide housing for homeless families.

Donna Edney, a founding board member of Family Promise, said the Nativity display is a reminder to the community that there are families in Midland who are homeless.

“What I try to let people know is that Mary and Jesus were one of the most famous homeless families,” she said. “When you think about it, they had nowhere to go, and they weren’t just there for a day; they were there for a while. Someone was nice enough to let them sleep in their stable.”

Edney started the “No Room at the Inn” fundraiser four years ago after seeing a similar event in California. It served as one of the first fundraisers for Family Promise, which opened in early 2011.

“Share the Spirit” is also in its fourth year and will include more than 300 Nativity scenes from around the world. Youth members of the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will perform a live Nativity reenactment. A children’s room will be set up with holiday crafts, children’s Nativity scenes, a scavenger hunt and a costume closet where children can dress up like they are in the first Nativity.

Mormon groups will perform Christmas hymns, and the weekend will conclude with a Christmas sing-a-long followed by a broadcast featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

If you go:

“No Room at the Inn” nativity display by Family Promise of Midland

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23

Grace Presbyterian Church, 2801 N. Garfield St.

Preview party 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, call 432-528-5521 to RSVP

Cost: Optional $5 donation

“Share the Spirit” nativity display by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints